Department for Education

Apprentices: Taxation

lord allen of kensington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that employers use at least half of their apprenticeship levy spend on new starters.

lord agnew of oulton: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 09 September 2019.The correct answer should have been:

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.The apprenticeship programme is employer-led. The department’s reforms have put employers in the driving seat, supporting them to design the high-quality apprenticeship standards that meet their skills needs. It is also for employers to decide which apprenticeships they offer, when, and to whom.Apprenticeships provide valuable opportunities for people of all ages. While the department has no current plans to restrict the use of employer’s levy funds, all aspects of the programme will be kept under review in response to employer feedback and as preparations for a comprehensive Spending Review next year continue.

lord agnew of oulton: It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.The apprenticeship programme is employer-led. The department’s reforms have put employers in the driving seat, supporting them to design the high-quality apprenticeship standards that meet their skills needs. It is also for employers to decide which apprenticeships they offer, when, and to whom.Apprenticeships provide valuable opportunities for people of all ages. While the department has no current plans to restrict the use of employer’s levy funds, all aspects of the programme will be kept under review in response to employer feedback and as preparations for a comprehensive Spending Review next year continue.

Apprentices: Taxation

lord allen of kensington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that employers use at least half of their apprenticeship levy spend on apprentices who are under 30 years of age.

lord agnew of oulton: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 09 September 2019.The correct answer should have been:

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.The apprenticeship programme is employer-led. The department’s reforms have put employers in the driving seat, supporting them to design the high-quality apprenticeship standards that meet their skills needs. It is also for employers to decide which apprenticeships they offer, when, and to whom.Apprenticeships provide valuable opportunities for people of all ages. While the department has no current plans to restrict the use of employer’s levy funds, all aspects of the programme will be kept under review in response to employer feedback and as preparations for a comprehensive Spending Review next year continue.

lord agnew of oulton: It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.The apprenticeship programme is employer-led. The department’s reforms have put employers in the driving seat, supporting them to design the high-quality apprenticeship standards that meet their skills needs. It is also for employers to decide which apprenticeships they offer, when, and to whom.Apprenticeships provide valuable opportunities for people of all ages. While the department has no current plans to restrict the use of employer’s levy funds, all aspects of the programme will be kept under review in response to employer feedback and as preparations for a comprehensive Spending Review next year continue.

Schools: Uniforms

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the timetable for implementing the commitment in their 2015 reportA better deal: boosting competition to bring down bills for families and firms to put best practice guidance for school uniform supply inEnglandon a statutory footing.

lord agnew of oulton: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 09 September 2019.The correct answer should have been:

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.It is for the governing body of a school (or in the case of academies, the academy trust) to decide rules relating to appearance, including whether there should be a school uniform, what it will be and how it should be sourced.No school uniform should be so expensive as to leave pupils or their families feeling unable to apply to, or attend, a school of their choice. The Department’s best-practice guidance advises schools that they should give the highest priority to cost considerations and achieving value for money for parents.The Department intends to put the school uniform guidance on a statutory footing when a suitable opportunity arises.The Department’s guidance is attached and is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-uniform.

lord agnew of oulton: It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.It is for the governing body of a school (or in the case of academies, the academy trust) to decide rules relating to appearance, including whether there should be a school uniform, what it will be and how it should be sourced.No school uniform should be so expensive as to leave pupils or their families feeling unable to apply to, or attend, a school of their choice. The Department’s best-practice guidance advises schools that they should give the highest priority to cost considerations and achieving value for money for parents.The Department intends to put the school uniform guidance on a statutory footing when a suitable opportunity arises.The Department’s guidance is attached and is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-uniform.

GCSE: Hearing Impairment

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to meet the National Deaf Children’s Society to discuss its reportDeaf children across England fall an entire grade behind at GCSE, published on 20 August.

lord agnew of oulton: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 09 September 2019.The correct answer should have been:

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.The department values the perspective of the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) reports and officials are in regular contact with NDCS to discuss their concerns. For 2020-21, the department has announced more than £700 million of additional high needs funding. This will fund children with more complex special educational needs and disabilities, including hearing impairment. This represents an increase of 11% compared to 2019-20, leading to a total of over £7 billion. This will help local authorities to manage the pressures that they will face next year.The Whole School SEND Consortium, led by nasen, are currently delivering a £3.9 million 2-year programme of work to equip schools to identify and meet their training needs in relation to special educational needs and disability (SEND) and to build the specialist workforce in mainstream and special schools, including support for pupils with hearing impairment. The National Sensory Impairment Partnership, the membership of which includes NDCS, are key partners in the delivery of that programme of work.

lord agnew of oulton: It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.The department values the perspective of the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) reports and officials are in regular contact with NDCS to discuss their concerns. For 2020-21, the department has announced more than £700 million of additional high needs funding. This will fund children with more complex special educational needs and disabilities, including hearing impairment. This represents an increase of 11% compared to 2019-20, leading to a total of over £7 billion. This will help local authorities to manage the pressures that they will face next year.The Whole School SEND Consortium, led by nasen, are currently delivering a £3.9 million 2-year programme of work to equip schools to identify and meet their training needs in relation to special educational needs and disability (SEND) and to build the specialist workforce in mainstream and special schools, including support for pupils with hearing impairment. The National Sensory Impairment Partnership, the membership of which includes NDCS, are key partners in the delivery of that programme of work.